The Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, Phoenix

Since its inception in 1942, the centre served as a sub-centre of the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa, Durban. It came into the fold of Ramakrishna Mission in 2007. In 2018, the Ramakrishna Centre of South Africa – Phoenix was separated from its parent centre in Durban and was given the status of a full-fledged affiliate of the Ramakrishna Mission. Swami Saradaprabhananda is its President.

Activities:

• Medical services: (i) Provided specialist medical and surgical services to poor patients at its facilities in Phoenix as well as in state hospitals and medical camps. Free consultations, diagnoses and medication in various disciplines. (ii) Medical camps and yoga therapy sessions were conducted in Verulam for children with cerebral palsy. (iii) Provided medicines, medical aid, and monthly stipends for healthcare workers.
• Nutrition programme: (i) Indigent families were provided with grocery and vegetable hampers. (ii) 58,310 sachets of nutrient- fortified breakfast cereals were distributed. (iii) 41 families were provided with bread and milk on a regular basis. (iv) 49 lactating mothers and their infant babies were immunised and supplied with baby formula, baby blankets, toiletry packs and hygiene products.
• A legal aid clinic: (i) Provided legal services and assistance to indigent people. (ii) Six seminars were conducted as part of a legal education programme.
• Veterinary services: Medicine and food were provided for pets of indigent families monthly. Eleven surgical procedures were sponsored and 12 vaccines for infectious diseases were administered. Education on veterinary care was imparted.
• Relief and welfare activities: (i) Social workers were trained through seminars and meetings to visit, assess, screen and provide needy families with nutritional, educational, developmental and medical needs. (ii) Drinking water, freshly cooked meals, breakfast packs, food hampers, blankets, etc were made available to families devastated by flood. (iii) LPG refills were provided to 15 deprived families monthly. (iv) Rainwater harvesting tanks were installed at 25 facilities.
• Agricultural projects: Seeds, saplings, fertilisers, agricultural accessories and rainwater-harvesting tanks were donated to poor families and welfare organisations.
• Children’s and youths’ programmes: (i) Conducted structured values-based education classes for children through the Ramakrishna Open School. (ii) Hundred youths from indigent families were assisted with counselling and skill development. (iii) Karate lessons for students.
• Educational Activities: (i) Classes on Vedanta and Swami Vivekananda were held regularly. (ii) Bookstalls were set up and literature packs were distributed in Phoenix and surrounding areas.
• (iii) Publication of values-based literature for children. (iv) Educational support by way of giving financial assistance, uniform sets, stationery and counselling to needy students.
• Religious activities: (i) Weekly prayer services and satsangs were held (ii) The birth anniversaries of the Holy Trio and major festivals were celebrated. (iii) Music players were installed at the homes of terminally ill patients and indigent families for playing bhajans.

Activities of the sub-centre at Johannesburg: (i) Monthly distribution of groceries, vegetables, blankets and other household items. (ii) Medical equipment and grocery were provided to 4 hospices, and a wellness drive was hosted. (iii) Digital classes promoting Vedanta philosophy and values-based education for children were regularly conducted. (iv) Regular prayer meetings were conducted. (v) Celebrations  of the birthdays of the Holy Trio and major religious festivals.